C.J. Mosley Trade Rumors: 'Jets Are Open to Trading' Star LB Ahead of NFL Draft

C.J. Mosley's days for the New York Jets may be numbered.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini: "The addition of linebacker Jarrad Davis has fueled speculation about Mosley, whose roster spot appears shaky. Yes, the Jets are open to trading him, a source said, but that will be difficult because he's owed $14 million in guarantees over the next two seasons."

Mosley, 28, spent his first five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and was a four-time Pro Bowler, registering 100 or more tackles in four campaigns. He signed a five-year, $85 million deal ahead of the 2019 season with the Jets, with major expectations that he would anchor the defense for years to come.

That hasn't materialized. He opted out of the 2020 campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic and appeared in just two games in 2019 because groin and core muscle injuries, posting nine tackles, an interception, a defensive touchdown and a fumble recovery. 

Not exactly the return the Jets were hoping for when they signed him to such a lucrative deal. 

And with the team signing Jarrad Davis this offseason, it's unclear if Mosley will have a role going forward. The Jets will be running a 4-3 scheme, with both Davis and Mosley best served as a middle linebacker. 

It's possible the Jets could experiment with Davis as a "Will," or weak-side linebacker, while keeping Mosley in the middle. But it would be both a risky and expensive gamble after the team signed Davis to a one-year, $5.5 million deal. That would leave a lot of cap space tied to the linebacker position. 

So a trade remains a logical potential outcome, ending a Mosley tenure in New York that never really got off the ground.